Driving-gear for automobiles.



Nn. 690,04l. Patented Dec. 3|, |901. W. VAN WAGUNER.

DRIVING GEAR FOR AUTOMOBILES.

(Application led June 6, 1901.)

2 Sheets--Sheei l.

(No Model.)

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Patented Dec. 3|, VI90l.

(Application filed June 6, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

muwverr llnriTnn STaTns PATnNT Trice.'

YVILLIAM VAN W'AGONER, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO OEN- TURY MOTOR VEHICLE COMPANY, OF SYRAOUSE, NEW YORK.

DRIVING-GEAR FOR AUTOMOBILES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters .Patent No. 690,041, dated December 31, 1901.

Application filed June 6, 1901. Serial No. 63,428. (No model.)

T0 @Z whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM VAN WAG- ONER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Driving-Gear for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has especial reference to improvements in the driving-gear disclosed in United States Patent No. 670,121, granted March 19, 1901, upon my application. In the driving-gear described and shown in said patent the propelling power is applied to a longitudinal shaft, which is journaled near its rear end in a casing inclosing the compensating gearing by which the driving-pinion on the rear end of the driving-shaft commu- 'nicates motion to bevel-wheels on the inner ends of the rear axles. This casing is loosely mounted upon the inner ends of the casings in which the rear axles turn in such manner that the gear-casing can oscillate on these axle-casings as the vehicle-body rises and falls and the longitudinal driving-shaft changes its position. No provision is, however, made in this patented mechanism for adjusting the driving-pinion laterally with reference to the bevel-wheel with which it meshes.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide simple means for adjusting the gear-casing laterally for the purpose of adjusting the drivin g-pinion to the wheel with which it meshes.

A further Objectis to so construct the parts that the ball-bearings at the inner and outer ends of the rear axles and axle-casings can be adjusted independently of the adjustment of the gear-casing.

A further object is to so construct the parts that the ball-bearin gs at the inner ends of the rear axles and axle-casings can be readily oiled.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of two sheets, Figure 1 is a fragmentary hori- Zontal sectional view through a drivin g-gearing and gear-casing embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, the section being taken in line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view in line 3 3,

Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the gearcasing, partly in section, to expose the internal parts. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevation showing a slightly-modified arrangement ot the locking-dog.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A represents the hollow rear axles, which are journaled in axle-casings a, carried by or forming part of the running-gear of the vehicle. The axles are each journaled in the casings by an inner ball-bearing B and an outer ball-bearing C.

D indicates the hubs of the drivingwvheels, which are secured to the outer ends of the rear axles A.

E represents a cylindricalaxle-core, which extends through both axlesAand fits snugly in the same, so as to hold the two axles in line.

The inner end of each casing o. is enlarged and provided with an inwardly-projecting cylindrical collar l), in which is seated the ball-cup b of the inner ball-bearing B.

b2 represents the balls, and b3 the cone, which is surrounded by said balls and which is secured to the axle A, near the inner end thereof, by brazing or otherwise.

The inner ends of the two axles A are connected by a compensating gearing of wellknown construction. This gearing consists, as shown, of the following parts: F represents the driving bevel gear-wheel, which is mounted with its hub f loosely upon the axlecore E between the inner ends of the two axles. F represents bevelpinions, which are arranged in the body of the gear-wheel F, between the hub f and the gear-rim f thereof, and are j ournaled on radial arbors f2. Three of theseV pinions are preferably employed, as shown. f3 represents bevel gear- Wheels, which mesh with these pinions and are secured to the inner ends of the axles A by brazing or otherwise. G represents the longitudinal driving-shaft, which carries at its rear end the driving-pinion g. The latter meshes with the driving gear-wheel F in front of the axles A.

H represents the gear-casing, which incloses the compensating gearing and which is provided on both sides with laterally-projecting IOO .gear-.casing oscillates on the rings.

collars h. The drivingshaft is journaled near its rear end in the front portion of this gear-casing.

The parts thus far described are all common to the mechanism of the said patent and are herein shown and described to enable an understanding of the present invention,which is embodied in the following devices:

I represents adjusting-rings, which are internally screw-threaded and screwed onto the externallythreaded collars h at the inner ends of the axle-casings a. These adjustingrings I are interposed between the collars b and the laterally-projecting collars h on the sides of the gear-casing. In the construction shown the outer peripheral faces of the adjusting-rings are cylindrical and the inner peripheral faces of the collars 7L, within which the rings fit, are also cylindrical, so that the gear-casing is free to turn or oscillate on the rings I.

t" indicates a side retaining shoulder or fiange formed on the outer end of each adjusting-ring and engaging the outer end of the adjacent collar 7i. ofthe casing, thus preventing lateral movement of the gear-casing on the adjusting-rings.

The adjusting-rings are preferably made of brass or similar metal. The outer faces of the adjusting-rings and inner faces of the collars h can be variously shaped, it only being essential that the gear-casing be permitted to turn or oscillate on the adjusting-rings and beheld from independent lateral or side movement thereon.

K represents locking-dogs for holding the adjusting-rings against accidental rotation. These dogs may be arranged in various Ways.

For instance, they may be secured to the gearcasing, as shown in Figs. l, 2, and 4t, or to the axle-casings, as shown in Fig. 5. Each dog engages in one or morey of an annular series of notches Z, formed in they outer end of @30h adjusting-ring, thereby coupling the ring to the part to which the dog is affixed. When the dogs are aiiixed to the gear-casing, the ringsoscillate with the same on the axle-casings as the vehicle-body rises and falls; but the lateral movement produced thereby in the rings is insignificant. When the, dogS. are

. affixed to the axle-casings, the rings are cou-V pled to the latter and held stationary and the Each locking-dog, as shown, is provided with two teeth k', which engage in two of the series of notches, which'gives increased strength.; but a Single tooth may be, employed. As shown in Figsgl, 2, and 4, each dog is secured to the casing by screws myn, applied, respectively, to the gear-casing H and the collar h thereof. Upon detaching the dogs the adjusting-rings can be screwed in or out for effecting the lateral adjustment of the gear-casing and the driving-pinion carried thereby.

O represents an oil-cup secured to each of the collars h of the gear-casing, near the side of the latter, over an oil-opening o, formed in the collar h, and a corresponding oil-opening o', formed in the collar b of the axle-casing. As the adjusting-rings are located between the collars h of the gear-casing and the collars b of theaXle-casings, provision must be made for the passage of the oil through the adjusting-rings. For this purpose each adjusting-ring I is provided with an annular series of oil-holes P, Fig. 4, which are spaced to correspond with the spacing of the notcheslin the rings, so that whenever a ring is adjusted and the tooth of the holding-dog is in engagement with one of the notches Zone of the holes P will register with the openings o and o in the collars h and b.

When for taking up wear or for any other reason it is desired to adjust the driving-pinion with reference to the bevel driving gearwheel, the holding-dogs are disengaged from the notches in the adjusting-rings. The latter are then free to be turned, and by screwing one ring out and the other in the gearcasing is shifted laterally and carries with it the driving-pinion g. This adjustment of the gear-casing is independent of the adjustment of the ball-bearings and does not affect the saine. The ball-bearings are adjusted from the outer ends of the axles, as fully explained in said patent; but inasmuch as the shoulders or flanges on the adjusting-rings would prevent this it is necessary to slack or turn out the adjusting-rings away from the gearcasing to give room for adj ustment. The ball-bearings are then adjusted, and thereafter the adjusting-rings are tightened up to hold the gear-casing against lateral movement f I claim as my invention-e 1. The combination with a driving shaft and pinion, a Wheel with which said pinion engages, andan axle with which said wheel is connected, of an inclosing casing by which said driving-shaft is carried, Supports for Said casing, and rings which are interposed between said casing and its supports and which are adjustable inthe direction of said axle, substantially asset forth.

2. The combination with an axle, its support, a gear-Wheel for driving said axle and a pinion meshing with ,said wheel, of al casing inclosing said gears, said pinion being movable with said gear-casing, and an adjustingring having a screw-threaded engagement with said axle-support and interposed between the same and said gear-casing, substantially as set forth. j

3. The combination of thel axles, casingsy in which the axles are arranged, a gear-casing embracing the inner ends of said axle-Casin gs, laterally-adjustable rings which are interposed between said axle-casings and thejgearcasing and which hold said gear-casing be.- tween'them, a driving shaft and pinion mounted in said gear-casing, and gearing connecting said pinion with said axles, substantially as IOO IIO

which the axles are arranged, laterally-adj ustable rings mounted on the inner ends of said axle-casings, and provided with retaining-shoulders, a gear-easing mounted on said rings between said shoulders, a driving shaft and pinion mounted in said gear-casing, and gearing connecting said pinion with said axles, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of the axles, easings in which the axles are arranged,- adjusting-rings mounted upon said axle-casings, a gear-easing mounted upon said rings, locking devices whereby said adj Listing-rings are held in their adjusted position, and driving-gearing arranged within said gear-casing, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of the axles, easings in which the axles are arranged, adj Listing-rings mounted upon said axle-casings, a gear-casing mounted upon said rings, locking-dogs where by said rings are connected with said gearcasing, and driving-gearing arranged within said gear-casing, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of the axles, easings in which the axles are arranged and Which are each provided near its inner end with an oilhole, adj Listing-rings arranged upon said axlecasings and provided with annular series of corresponding oil-holes, a gear-casing mounted upon said rings and provided at each side with an oil-hole arranged in line with the oilholes of the adjacent adjusting-ring and the oil-hole of the adjacent axle-casing, and driving-gearing arranged within said gear-casing, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination of the axles, easiugs in which the axles are arranged and which are each provided near its inner end with an oilhole,ad j Listing-rings arranged upon said axleeasings and provided with annular series of corresponding oil-holes, a gear-casing mounted upon said rings and provided at each side with an oil-hole arranged in line with the oilholes of the adjacent adjusting-ring and the oil-hole of the adjacent axle-casing, locking means whereby said adj Listing-rings are held against accidental rotation and which correspend in spacing with the spacing of the oilholes in the adjusting-rings,and driving-gear-r ing arranged Within said gear-casing, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 4th day of June, 1901.

WILLIAM VAN WAGONER.

Witnesses:

PETER B. COLE, ALEXANDER D. JENNEY. 

